• Defence Notes

  Insight: 2019 NDAA breaks China’s heart

  22nd August 2018

  The US military got the green light from the White House to improve military relations with Taiwan and attempt to disrupt China’s efforts to displace …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2018: Lockheed Martin steadfast with F-35 plans

  16th July 2018

  Lockheed Martin has a tentative deal with the US Air Force for its next lot of F-35 Lightning II fighters and the company is continuing …

• Defence Notes

  Slovakia to buy 14 US-made F-16 jet fighters

  11th July 2018

  The Slovak government announced on 11 July that it had approved the purchase of 14 US-made F-16 Block 70/72 jet fighters, amid US criticism that …

• Military Logistics

  AFRL extends serviceability of hydraulic lines

  31st August 2018

  The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) recently completed an effort to help develop, test and validate a cold spray coating process for the life …

• Defence Notes

  US wants Turkey to buy Patriot missiles

  17th July 2018

  The US is trying to persuade NATO partner Turkey to purchase the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, a US official said 16 July, instead of rival …

• Digital Battlespace

  US military looks to jam-resistant laser communications

  23rd August 2018

  Fearful that a future conflict will likely pit its deployed forces against an adversary with significant jamming capabilities, the US military is testing novel communication …

• Training

  USAF boom operators train on new kit

  27th August 2018

  An upgraded three-dimensional simulator at US Air Force base Travis is providing advanced training for KC-10 Extender boom operators. The boom operator trainer at the …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG transfers HC-130J to Kodiak

  28th August 2018

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) transferred an HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft, CGNR-2009, to Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, on 21 August 2018. Originally …

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine shows off heavy weapons at Kiev parade

  29th August 2018

  A number of new and experimental heavy weapons were displayed by the Ukrainian Army during the country's 24 August military parade held in the capital …

• Military Logistics

  US Army receives silk ballistic shootpack panels

  22nd August 2018

  Kraig Biocraft Laboratories has delivered ballistic shootpack panels made from its Dragon Silk material to the US Army, the company announced on 20 August. The …

• Training

  Farnborough 2018: UK looks to future ACMI system

  23rd July 2018

  The UK is making some major investments in its air combat training capabilities with programmes such as the Defence Operational Training Capability – Air (DOTC-A), …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2018: Show roundup (video)

  20th July 2018

  As Farnborough draws to a close, Shephard's editorial team discuss the main news stories from the week, including the unveiling of Tempest - the UK's …

• Land Warfare

  Moog tests integrated MML equipment

  20th August 2018

  Moog has successfully completed the second phase of integration and testing on the Engineering Manufacturing Development configuration of the US Army's Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) . …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA reviews satellite servicing robot design

  22nd August 2018

  DARPA has concluded the preliminary design review of a satellite servicing payload for its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) programme. According to DARPA, results …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM advances the Hyper Enabled Operator

  31st August 2018

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has initiated the first steps in its development of the Hyper Enabled Operator (HEO) concept with plans for a …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Block 52 Pakistan

  Programme Background The 2016 FMS was proposed to the US Congress as a way to help increase Pakistan's ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter [Morocco]

  Programme Background 2019 In March 2019, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible FMS of 25 F-16V Block 72 aircraft to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (Jordan)

  Programme Background On 3 February 2022, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft,  four ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (1-8) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Requirement Bulgarian MoD plans to procure 16 new-built fighter aircraft to replace its fleet of 15 Russian-manufactured MiG-29 fighters. Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Next Generation Fighter (1-32) [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Next Generation Fighter (1-32) [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Data links

  Data links | Next Generation Fighter (1-32) [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Next Generation Fighter (1-32) [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Next Generation Fighter (1-32) [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35A [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35A [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35A [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35A [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35A [Romania]

  In February 2022, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis gave a speech stating that Romania was considering the acquisition of F-35 fighters to replace its F-16 inventory in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V (9-16) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background In April 2022, the US State Department approved a potential FMS worth $1.673 million to procure eight F-16Vs to Bulgaria. The aircraft are ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: air combat simulators

  USAF F-16 Training System

  L3Harris Technologies is supporting approximately 180 F-16 pilot and maintenance trainers as part of the USAF’s F-16 Training System. Programme contract options extend through 2019. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 50/52/52+

  A member of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family, the F-16C/D Block 50/52 ('C' single-seat, 'D' dual-seat) is a third-generation multirole fighter that was rolled out ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16E/F Block 60

  The F-16E/F Block 60/61 ('E' single-seat, 'F' dual-seat) is a fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft introduced as part of the Fighting Falcon family. It is also ...

• EO/IR systems

  DB/MS-110

  The DB-110 is a long-range oblique photography (LOROP) EO/IR dual-band sensor that combines visible and IR imaging. MS-110 represents the next generation of the widely deployed ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  AN/ALE-47A(V)

  The ALE-47 is an airborne counter-measures dispenser system manufactured by BAE Systems, though the system was originally designed by Tracor. ALE-47 counters threats by identifying ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70/72

  The F-16 Block 70/72, also referred to as the F-16V, is a fourth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. It is the latest version of Lockheed Martin's F-16 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16C/D Block 25, 30/32, 40/42

  The F-16C/D ('C' one-seat, 'D' two-seat designation) is the second generation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon family. The production of the F-16C/D began in 1983 with ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  F-16 FMS

  Elbit System's FMS for the Block 15, 30/40 and 52 F-16 fighters simulates all aircraft systems, emergencies and weapon deliveries. An F-16I simulator system has ...

• Fixed wing aircraft engines, Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  F110-GE-129

  The F110-GE-129, manufactured by GE Aviation, is a derivative of the F110-GE-100 engine, sharing 81% of parts with the GE-100. The GE-129 engine is in ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-158B JASSM-ER

  The AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) is an American air-launched, precision standoff cruise missile and the extended-range version of the base JASSM.

• Air: Head-up displays

  I-HUD2

  The I-HUD2 is a modernised display for the F-16 platform, which is based on the base F-16 HUD in service with the US Air Force ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, UAS: communication systems

  MR6000R/L (AN/ARC-238)

  Rohde&Schwarz; MR6000R/L software-defined radios are multiband, airborne transceivers that are part of the M3AR product family. They are integrated into fixed-wing, rotary wing and UAS platforms of ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A

  The F-35A Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft with CTOL capabilities. It is a multinational programme led by the US DoD, bringing together ...

• Data links

  MIDS-LVT(1) (ViaSat)

  MIDS-LVT(1) adds Link 16 communications to airborne and maritime platforms. It provides all operational modes of the Link 16 waveform, and implements the required MIDS ...